Holiday Workshops: The Gate-Keepers of Primary Series

December 27 to 31, 2019

In the ashtanga primary series we will be moving along, enjoying our practice until we get to a certain pose that just stumps us! One of those poses that we think we will never be able to do, so we skip over it or force ourselves into some resemblance of the pose (usually resulting in eventual injury) or feel eternally stopped at that part of the practice, never to move along.
The focus of these workshops will be how to approach these so called ‘gate-keepers’ with intelligence and equanimity (true virtues of yoga).

Each morning we will beginning with the breath, as this is the greatest gift we have been given and it is too often neglected. Then we will do either Mysore or Guided Practice.
In the afternoons, we’ll inspect certain poses to learn how to use anatomy to understand the universal anatomical alignment needed to do the pose, find ways to ‘work in the direction’ of the pose, and use our innate internal wisdom to approach the pose for long term health and well-being.

PROGRAM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 279:30 am – 12:15 Kriya, Pranayama & guided Ashtanga Yoga
Pranayama ~ Discover Your Breath: It’s right under our nose, literally speaking, but we hardly know it. Each workshop will start with some breathing exercise (pranayama) to teach us how to breathe better, in order to calm our very busy minds. Your breathing will never be the same, guaranteed!! Then we will be guided through a portion of the Ashtanga Primary Series in a slow and progressive manner so that we can grasp the subtleties of the asanas. Taking the time to feel the poses in a deep way.

1:00 – 4:00 pm First Gate Keepers – Half Lotus
There are two poses that look almost alike, one is standing, and one is sitting, Ardha Baddha Padmottānāsana and Ardha Baddha Padma Paśchimottānāsana. They inform one another and have great benefits in balance, energy movement and mobility. The basic actions that will be delved into during this afternoon are: KNEES for LOTUS, BALANCING, FORWARD BENDING. Variations one can do to ‘work in the direction of the pose’ or perform to avoid aggravating existing knee issues.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 289:30 am – 12:15 Kriya, Pranayama & guided Ashtanga Yoga
We will again start with Kriya and Pranayama. Then we will be guided through a portion of the Ashtanga Primary Series in a slow and progressive manner going further than we did on the first day.

1:00 – 4:00 pm Second Gate Keepers – Marīchyāsana Group
A little further on from yesterday, we find more half lotus poses: Marīchyāsana B & D. Marichi is said to have been a wise sage and the son of Brahma. When we reach these poses in the series, we can see it as a test if we can approach the poses with wisdom. The basic actions that will be delved into during this afternoon are: PELVIS ALIGNMENT, TWISTING.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 299:30 am – 12:15 Kriya, Pranayama & Mysore
We will again start with Kriya and Pranayama. Then we will do a Mysore Self-Practice. This is the ideal way to be able to do Ashtanga according to your very own breath and body’s needs.

1:00 – 4:00 pm Third Gate Keepers – Bhujapīdāsana to Supta Kūrmāsana
These are some of the most difficult positions in the series. We’ve worked a lot on strengthening the upper body (with vinyasas) and lengthening the back body (with all those forward bends) so we start to be ready to place body weight on our hands and go into deeper forward bending positions! During this afternoon, we will introduce ways for everyone to work intelligently to make these poses useful for overall well-being. The basic actions that will be delved into during this afternoon are: WRISTS & HANDS FOR BALANCE, HIPS, LOWER BACK.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 309:30 am – 12:15 Kriya, Pranayama & Mysore
We will again start with Kriya and Pranayama. Then we will do a Mysore Self-Practice. This is the ideal way to be able to do Ashtanga according to your very own breath and body’s needs.

1:00 – 4:00 pm Fourth Gate Keepers – Setu Bandhāsana & Pāshāsana
The final position of primary series is the bridge to the first pose of intermediate series and the finishing sequence! Sometimes quite scary for the neck as we are making a bridge from the top of the head to the feet. But don’t despair there are ways for us all to strengthen our neck to do this pose. Then we can get balanced as we introduce this great test of the bandhas pose, pāshāsana! The basic actions that will be delved into during this afternoon are: NECK, WHOLE SPINE, BANDHAS, BALANCE, TWISTING.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 319:30 am – 12:15 Kriya, Pranayama & guided Ashtanga Yoga
We will again start with Kriya and Pranayama. Then we will be guided through a portion of the Ashtanga Primary Series in a slow and progressive manner going further than we did on the first day.

9:00 pm – 12:00 am New Year’s Eve Resolutions for Evolution | NO CHARGE, bring family and friends
Beginning a brand-new year is an opportunity to reflect on the previous one and plant nourishing seeds for the year to come. We’ll participate in soothing asana, pranayama, mindfulness and silent self-reflection to go deep inside and find our ‘sankalpa’ for 2020! Sankalpa means an intention formed in the heart to harness the will-power to aid us to evolve. There is no charge, just bring a juice or snack to share as we consciously celebrate the coming of the New Year! Start the year off with positive affirmations, the support of the yoga community and your closest friends and family. Everyone is welcome, not only those taking the workshops.

REGISTER:

Regular registration: Fill and sign the registration form & join your payment. Please send by (snail) mail, e-mail, or bring at the studio directly if you’re coming to a class.Payment by check, cash or bank transfer.Download the Registration Form

Online registration: available for full workshop only Secure payment by credit card

CANCELLATION POLICY

Payments of 25 euros or less are non-refundable.
An admin fee of 25 euros will be deducted for cancellations made more than 21 days before the workshop.
Only half of the sum paid will be returned 8 to 20 days before the workshop.
Sum paid is non-refundable 7 days before the workshop.
We don’t accept transferring of a paid reservation to another person after 2 weeks before the workshop.
We advise to those coming from out of Paris to purchase travel insurance as travel issues will not change this policy. Medical issues will also not change this policy.
As the teacher is confirming their presence and is guaranteed the amount of people who are attending 21 days before, we ask for your understanding of this policy.